Conference Schedule With Presentation Descriptions
Thursday

2:00 - 4:00PM
Location: Main Event Room
Event: Sponsors can check in and set up 

• Conference Sponsor: ICDL
• Friday Keynote Sponsor:  ForMotion Clinic
• Sunday Keynote Sponsor: Hanger Clinic

4:00 - 6:30PM

Location: Main Event Room
Event: Attendee check in begins

5:00 - 6:30PM

Location: Main Event Room & Cafe
Event: 

• Cash bar & mingle starting at 5
• Community Partners 6:30-7:30

Contact hours: 1.0 (Community Partners)

7:00 - ?

FREE time

• Firepit
• Networking
• On site bar*
• Arcade*
• Bowling*

*Open until 10

Friday

7:00-8:15AM
Location: Main Event Room
Event:  

• Attendee Check In
• Breakfast (Ticket Required)
• Free Coffee 
  
  

15 minute break

8:30-9:45AM

Location: Main Event Room
Event:  

• Welcome!
• Conference Sponsor: ICDL

• Keynote Alyson Stover: What If OT IS the Healthcare System?
  Keynote Sponsored by: ForMotion Clinic

Contact Hours:  1.25

15 minute break

10-12PM
Event:  2 hour sessions

Contact Hours:  2.0

A Primer on Neurodiversity-Affirming Care

Presenter: Kimberly Soults, OTR/L

Location: Front of Main Event

Participants will learn foundational elements of neurodiversity-affirming care for autistic clients. Participants will understand the neurodiversity movement as a civil rights and social justice movement. We will use a strengths-based lens to gain a deeper understanding of autistic culture and social communication as a different way of being in the world, rather than a set of deficits. We will examine the common co-occurrence of mental health, suicidality and abuse for the autistic population, and how therapists can proactively improve these outcomes. This presentation will offer practical strategies for implementing strengths-based care into practice through assessment, goal setting, intervention and documentation.

The Occupation of Sewing: A Timeless, Tech-Free Therapeutic Activity 

Presenter:  Lindsey Trott,  OTD, MOT, M.Ed, OTR/L

Location: Craft Room

“Occupation as ends, occupation as means” is perfectly illustrated through the act of sewing (Gray, 1998). As an occupation, sewing can be an IADL, job, volunteer work, leisure activity, or social engagement. As an intervention, sewing can be used with diagnoses like patients with stroke, arthritis, psychiatric disorders, and executive functioning deficits. Sewing appeals to all populations from pediatrics to older adults in a variety of clinical and community settings. Sewing can benefit clients, caregivers, and occupational therapy practitioners. In this hands-on, occupation-based workshop, practice different types of sewing—hand sewing, slow stitching, English paper piecing, and patchwork quilting.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration of Pediatric Feeding Disorders: Foundational Skills, Co-Treatment Strategies, and IDDSI Application 

Presenter: Megan Gardner, M.S. CCC-SLP

Location: Cafe 

This presentation offers a practical overview of pediatric feeding and swallowing, beginning with developmental milestones and an introduction to Pediatric Feeding Disorders (PFD) across four domains: medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and psychosocial. Case studies and hands-on activities will help participants recognize PFD and apply the IDDSI framework for food texture and liquid thickness. Emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary collaboration between SLPs and OTPs, as well as effective family engagement. Attendees will leave with clinical tools, strategies, and a resource packet including age norms, IDDSI handouts, parent education materials, and therapy tips for real-world application.

Explore the Day: Using Photography to Explore the World Around You.

Presenter: Kit Elstad (they/them)

Location: Yoga Lawn

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all” (Helen Keller). For some, that adventure can take them around the world, and for others the daring adventure is right outside their door. Photography can allow us to capture those small moments in meaningful ways, allow us to connect to the world around us, and give us the opportunities to tell our own stories. In this session participants will have a chance to hear about how photography can be transformative for the photographer and have the opportunity to participate in the Explore the Day activity where they will get in touch with our senses and use them to explore our surroundings through photography. After the activity we will have a chance to debrief our experience and discuss how we can adapt and implement similar programming for others.

10-11AM

Keynote Sponsor ForMotion: Volume Management and Skin Care for Lower Limb Amputees

Presenter: ForMotion

Location: Back of Main Event

Contact Hour: 1.0

Volume management for an amputee is one of the most difficult education parameters. The patient may be fluctuating volume daily, leading to fit issues. The shape of the socket remains the same while the residual limb is changing and maturing. Patient education on appropriate fit and proper hygiene are crucial for successful prosthetic use.

15 minute break

11:15 - 12:15PM
The FUNdamentals of Group Treatment: How to Design, Implement and Adapt Occupation-based Groups

Presenter: Ryan Kepler, MOT, OTR/L

Location: Back of Main Event

Contact Hour: 1.0

Group therapy can be a valuable asset in any occupational therapy practitioner’s tool belt. The best groups are those that are focused on patient goals, based in occupation, and are enjoyable for both the participants and leaders of the groups. This workshop will look at strategies for designing, implementing and adapting groups for older adults that are meaningful, practical, goal-directed and fun. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of the benefits of group therapy as well as a practical understanding of ways to incorporate group therapy into their practice.

12-1PM
Lunch

1-3PM
Event:  2 hour sessions

Contact Hours:  2.0

Rest, Resilience, and Recovery: Occupation-Based Approaches to Sleep, Stress, and Pain

Presenter: Katy Owens,  MOT, OTR/L, TPS

Location: Back of Main

Struggling to help clients break the cycle of poor sleep, chronic stress, and persistent pain? This engaging, hands-on session will equip you with evidence-based, occupation-centered strategies to improve sleep hygiene, reduce stress, and manage pain. Through self-assessment, guided reflection, and a gentle movement experience, you’ll explore how occupational therapy interventions—such as bedtime routines, sensory-based strategies, and yoga—can promote resilience and recovery. Walk away with practical tools and an intervention framework to integrate into your practice. Join me for an interactive, restorative session that will enhance both your clinical skills and personal well-being!

The Co-occupation of Joint Play: Theory, Assessment & Intervention

Presenter:  Anita Bundy, ScD, OT/L, FAOTA, FOTARA

Location: Craft Room

Parent/caregiver–child play has received little attention in occupational therapy. This workshop will cover the fundamentals of the co-occupation of joint play including child play, playfulness, parent/caregiver-child interaction, and occupation-centered evaluation, including the Parent/Caregiver Support of Children’s Playfulness (PC-SCP; Waldman-Levi & Bundy, 2023), an observational assessment of parents’ or other caregivers’ support of children’s playfulness administered while observing a 15-minute unstructured play session between a parent/caregiver and a child. Data gathered with PC-SCP has good evidence of reliability, and validity. Participants will discuss a vignette of parent/caregiver-play including scoring a sample of items from the PC-SCP and considering intervention.

Effective Communication & Leadership Strategies for Clinicians and Leaders

Presenter: Jordon Allard, MOT, OTR/L

Location: Cafe

Heart racing, palms sweaty—you’re about to have a tough conversation and don’t feel prepared. Sound familiar? Clinicians and leaders face these moments every day. This session offers practical strategies to strengthen communication, navigate conflict, and manage team dynamics with confidence. Learn to foster a positive culture, improve collaboration, and approach challenging conversations with patients, families, and colleagues more effectively. With the right tools, you can reduce stress, build stronger relationships, and lead with clarity—enhancing both patient care and team success.

Explore and Experience the National Sports Center for the Disabled at Winter Park

Presenter: Mark Stump, Recreational Program Director

Location: Winter Park Adaptive Program Center

Dive into the world of adaptive skiing through an interactive session at the National Sports Center! Participants will receive a client profile and work collaboratively to assess and identify the most appropriate adaptive ski equipment to meet their client's unique needs. This hands-on experience will not only familiarize you with a range of adaptive gear but also deepen your understanding of inclusive recreation and problem-solving in real-world scenarios. Perfect for professionals and students alike who are passionate about accessible sports and recreation!

Aquatic Therapy in Occupational Therapy: Relaxation & Manual Techniques Interventions Across the Lifespan

Presenter: Holly Ross, OTR/L, WSI/T, LTP, ATRIC

Co-presenter: Katie Freeman, COTA/L

Location: Pool

With both hands-on (in-water, hair wet) and lecture-based (deck only options) components, OTPs will gain knowledge and hands-on training for manual techniques, water-based relaxation techniques, and orthopedic interventions in a warm water (hot tub) environment for patients and clients across the lifespan. Specific age ranges for this course will closer relate to pediatrics through adulthood but less on geriatrics. While this workshop focuses more on the physiological being, we will be zooming out to consider how these interventions relate to occupations as a whole. Prepare to be relaxed and learn valuable techniques for your practice through warm water therapy interventions.

1-2PM
Value Based Rehab: Elevating Occupational Therapy's Impact in Acute Care 

Presenter: Amanda Hoffman, MS, OTR/L, BCPR

Location: Front of Main

Contact Hour: 1.0

Value-based rehabilitation in acute care ensures that occupational therapy services are efficient, high-quality, and fiscally responsible while optimizing patient outcomes. UCHealth’s Acute Care Value-Based Rehabilitation (VBR) model aligns therapy workflows with system-wide priorities, emphasizing function, safety, and care transitions. This session explores data-driven strategies to prioritize high-impact interventions, standardize workflows, and measure outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into integrating value-based principles into OT practice, enhancing advocacy, and improving efficiency in acute care settings. Join us to learn how occupational therapists can drive meaningful change in a healthcare landscape increasingly focused on value and patient-centered care.

15 minute break

2:15-3:15PM
The Occupational Therapist's Role in Evaluation, Treatment, and Management of Dysphagia in the Pediatric Client in an Outpatient or Rural Setting

Presenter: Kerry Spencer, MS OTR/L

Co-presenter: Michelle Shalom, MS OTR/L

Location: Front of Main

Contact Hour: 1.0

Participants should have basic knowledge of feeding and swallowing disorders for this course. The purpose of this course is to instill confidence in community providers who have limited resources with accessing support when treating children with known or suspected dysphagia.

3:30-4:30PM
Event: 1 Hour Sessions
Contact Hour: 1.0

Conference Sponsor: ICDL - DIR Floortime 

Presenter: ICDL

Location: Front of Main

Professional Skills Student Toolkit: Developing Highschool Student Occupational Performance 

Presenter: Makenzie McCain, OTD, OTR/L

Location: Back of Main

Discover how occupational therapy principles are being introduced to high school students through an innovative Career and Technical Education (CTE) program and the development of a Professional Skills Student Toolkit. This presentation highlights a unique role for occupational therapists in education and showcases strategies to support students' transitions to meaningful roles post-high school. Learn about data-driven insights and engaging, student-centered resources that enhance occupational performance, from communication to time management. Whether preparing future OTs or fostering essential life skills, this session offers actionable tools and perspectives to enrich both educational and therapeutic practice.

From Awkward to Empowered: Helping Generalists Navigate Pelvic Health with Ease 

Presenter:  Krista Covell-Pierson, OTR/L, BCB-PMD

Location: Craft Room

Pelvic health is a vital but often overlooked aspect of occupational therapy. This course will help general practitioners confidently address pelvic health across practice settings—no specialty certification required. Learn how to recognize signs of pelvic health dysfunction, use approachable language to support clients, and incorporate functional, evidence-informed strategies into your care. Whether you're new to the topic or want to enhance your whole-body approach, this session will give you practical tools and confidence to make pelvic health part of your everyday OT practice.

Locked Inside Nature-Based Interventions for Indoor Setting 

Presenter:  Amber Whitley, MOT, OTR/L, MS, CCLS

Location: Cafe

This presentation explores the integration of nature-based interventions in occupational therapy, specifically addressing implementation in settings with limited outdoor access. The content covers four key areas: an introduction to biophilia, current research on nature in mental health settings, hands-on activities (including journaling, CBT-based reframing, and mindfulness painting), and practical applications across various OT settings. Special attention is given to adapting activities for indoor environments while maintaining therapeutic benefits, with consideration for safety restrictions and diverse patient populations. The presentation provides opportunity for discussion on practical strategies for OT practitioners across settings.

30 minute break

5-6:30PM
Happy Hour + Networking
Networking meet ups can be posted & found in the entrance of the Main Event building!

Saturday

6-7AM

Event: Exhibitor Check In

Location: Main Event Hall

7-8:15AM

Event: Breakfast (Ticket Required)

Location: Cafe

7:30-8:15AM
Event: 

• Sponsors & Exhibitors

Guiding the Future: An EDJI Dialogue for Inclusive OT Practice

Join us for an open forum hosted by OTAC’s Equity, Diversity, Justice, and Inclusion (EDJI) Committee. This session offers a supportive and inclusive space for occupational therapy practitioners and students to voice experiences, concerns, and needs related to EDJI in education, practice, and the profession. With OT facing unprecedented challenges, we will engage in collaborative discussion to help guide OTAC’s future actions in supporting a more inclusive, responsive, and just professional community. All voices are welcome, and participation is encouraged in a spirit of curiosity, empathy, and progress.

Location: Main Event Room

15 minute break

8:30-9:45AM
Event: 

Location: Main Event Room
Contact Hour: 1.25

15 minute break

10-12PM
Event: 2 hour sessions

Contact Hours: 2.0

Loose Parts, Risky Play, and Sensory Integration: OT in Outdoor Spaces

Presenter: Emily B. Tull,  MSOT, OTR/L, EP-C
Location: TBD

Join Emily Tull, OTR/L, in a hands-on outdoor workshop exploring nature-based OT practices. Participants will engage in loose parts play, sensory-rich activities, and movement-based tools to support regulation and development. This interactive session will highlight how risky play and outdoor sensory experiences can support neurodivergent children’s growth. We will explore how nature itself can act as a co-therapist—offering novelty, movement, and emotional regulation. Learn strategies to integrate these approaches into your practice and walk away with practical tools and fresh insight.

Homesteading with a Disability

Presenter: Sarah Hauser, MA OTR/L
Location:TBD

Homesteading in rural communities fosters self-sufficiency and sustainability, but individuals with disabilities face unique challenges when living off the land. First, we will focus on gardening with a hands-on activity. Gardening, a key homesteading activity, requires physical labor, mobility, and adaptive strategies, making it difficult for those with physical limitations. Second, we will focus on real life case studies. Small group discussions, focused within your specific field, will explore the practical difficulties and innovative solutions disabled individuals encounter while engaging in homesteading. These discussions aim to identify strategies for overcoming barriers to homesteading tasks and promote inclusive approaches, ensuring homesteading remains accessible and beneficial for all members of rural communities.

15 minute break

10-11AM 
Event: 1 hour sessions
Contact Hours: 1.0

Keynote Sponsor Hanger Clinic: Maximizing Well-Being Following Upper Limb Amputation: Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Considerations

Presenter: Hanger Clinic
Location: Front Main

NBCOT® National Certification Exam: Information You Need to Know

Presenter: Jill Groskreutz, MBA, OTD, OTR/L, CLT

Location: Craft Room

During this session, an NBCOT Ambassador will share valuable information about preparing and applying for the national OTR and COTA certification exams. Specific topics include exclusive details about the exams, study tool resources, test day information, data regarding exam questions, and advice from other students and recent certificates. This presentation will allow you to be better informed about the various aspects of the national certification exam experience.

Occupational Therapy Interventions to Promote Preschool Children’s Social-Emotional Development and Classroom Participation

Presenter:  Lindsey Shaub, OTR/L

Location: Cafe

This presentation will explore the gap in occupational therapy service provision for preschool-aged children and the implications for promoting social-emotional development in the classroom environment. This session will also explore evidence-based OT interventions that foster self-regulation in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary classrooms. Participants will examine the connection between self-regulation and executive functioning, reflect on their own practice through case studies, and learn strategies for integrating OT into preschool classrooms using a health promotion approach. This session aims to help practitioners identify opportunities to enhance service delivery for preschool children with and without disabilities.

11:15-12:15
Event: 1 hour sessions
Contact Hours: 1.0

Navigating Fieldwork Success: Enhancing Wellness, Professional Growth, and Conflict Resolution Skills

Presenters:

• Alison Herman, DHSc, MPH, OTR/L  
• Julie Silver Seidle, PhD, OTR/L
• Suzanne Holm, OTD, OTR, BCPR
• Jennifer L. Geitner, MOT, OTR/L 
• Ashley Fecht, OTD, OTR/L, BCP 
•  Caroline Stertz, MS, OTR/L 
• Rachel Eisfelder, MOT, OTR/L 

Location: Front of Main

This workshop empowers OT and OTA students to successfully navigate fieldwork experiences by building key skills in wellness, communication, mentorship, and conflict resolution. Through engaging, evidence-informed content and interactive strategies, students will explore ways to prevent burnout, foster supportive relationships, and manage challenges with confidence. The session supports the development of essential soft skills for long-term professional success across diverse fieldwork and capstone environments. 

Homeward Bound: OT's Role in Assessing and Overcoming Barriers to Home Safety

Presenter: Ryan Kepler, MOT, OTR/L
Location: Craft Room

The CDC developed the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) initiative to support primary care practitioners (PCPs) in decreasing falls in older adults. As part of this initiative, PCPs are encouraged to specifically refer to occupational therapists if they identify home safety hazards. This workshop will explore what uniquely qualifies occupational therapy practitioners to address home safety across living environments and throughout the aging process. We will address assessment of home safety hazards, interventions to use across settings and populations, and identify emerging technology that supports patients to remain independent in their chosen home environment.

12-1PM
Lunch 

1-3PM
Event: 2 hour sessions
Contact Hours: 2.0

Stop... Collaborate and Listen!: Integrating Music into Occupational Therapy Practice

Presenter: Angela Wibben, MM, MT-BC

Location: Main Event

This two-hour workshop will consist of a one-hour didactic and one-hour experiential training for utilizing music, or musical elements, in occupational therapy practice. Ways that music impacts development, aging, and (re)habilitation in both the brain and body will be explored, and examples of facilitating intentional uses of music, and applicable skills related to appropriate adaptations of music, will be developed.

From Hospital to Home: Enhancing Geriatric Post Acute Care Transitions Through Informed Discharge Planning

Presenter: Kaci DeWitt-Rickards, PT, DPT, GCS

Co-presenter: Kara La Grande MS OTR/L

Location: Craft Room

This course is tailored for rehabilitation therapists, case managers, and other healthcare professionals focused on the geriatric population. It examines the critical role that a patient’s prior living situation plays in determining the most appropriate post-acute care disposition following an acute change in function. Emphasizing a patient-centered approach, the curriculum explores how therapists can effectively evaluate a patient’s pre-hospital environment and integrate that insight with current state and CMS guidelines when making recommendations for post-acute care.

Bridging the Gap: Creating Interprofessional Education Opportunities to Improve Best Practices in Rural Neuro Rehab 

Presenter: Becky Kinnison, OTD, OTR/L
Co-presenters: 

• Kylie Widhelm, OTD, OTR/L
• Andrea Willmann, COTA/L, OTD

Location: Cafe

This presentation details the steps taken by the presenters respective interprofessional committees/teams to deliver inter-professional education focused on rural and at risk healthcare needs. Participants will engage in discussions, explore strategies, and create actionable plans tailored for their own interprofessional teams.

The OT Startup Circuit: Conditioning Your Practice for Success

Presenter: Sarah Putt, MA, OTR/L
Co-presenter: Krista Covell-Pierson, OTR/L, BCB-PMD.
Location: Fitness Center

Engage in a dynamic session that merges physical movement and contemplative exercises with entrepreneurial strategy, tailored for occupational therapy practitioners and students exploring business ownership. Participants will rotate through workout-inspired stations, Warm-Up, Strength Training, Cardio, and Cool Down, each representing a key phase in launching an OT business. Participants are encouraged to engage in ways that align with their comfort, whether that's through movement or engaging in visualization and reflective practices. This inclusive approach ensures that everyone can participate meaningfully, fostering a supportive environment where all attendees can connect, share insights, and develop personalized action plans.

Ecology of Occupation: Practice Applications

Presenter: Carla Sue Wilhite, PPOTD, OTR/L

Location: TBD

Adaptation is a constant driving force in human occupations, and humans are altering their environment and contexts to live in a time of rapid climate change. Some humans are disadvantaged in performing occupations of daily living that consider the environment and planet health due to social conditions, proximity to resources, or lack of basic knowledge. Occupational therapy professionals can become experts in training, educating, and assisting people in performing human/planet healthy ways of living. Because occupational therapy is performed with a non-judgmental, ethical, and client-centered ethos it can assist others without a political/policy/regulatory ethos. Rather, change and adaptation occurs at the tempo and temporality of client ability and resources. Activities around ecology can be performed for well-being, creativity, benefiting nature, or minimizing human impact on the environment.

15 minute break

3:15-4:15PM
Event: 1 hour sessions
Contact Hours: 1.0

Climbing is the Best Medicine- Movement and Adventure, Indoor Climbing, a Key to Improved Health

Presenter: Rey Erickson, OTR, MS
Location: Front Main

I will present research and insights gathered by "United Rocks" and "Upending Parkinson's" about the benefits of indoor climbing. United Rocks is a climbing group (Founded by Marianna Steelsmith) for people with developmental disabilities and "Upending Parkinson's" founded by Molly Cupka with a local chapter led by Dr. Doug Redosh (living with Parkinson's) engage their participants in indoor climbing to improve their health and reduce disability associated with their diagnoses. Possible connections between these seemingly divergent groups could be "forced use", High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and connections with the principles of Sensory Integration that were established by Jean Ayers.

Integrating Occupational Therapy in Primary Care for LGBTQIA2S+ Communities: Enhancing Well-Being and Inclusive Practices

Presenter: Michelle LeRoy
Co-presenter: Colton Sayers, OTD, OTR/L, CNS.
Location: Craft

The integration of occupational therapy (OT) into primary care settings that serve LGBTQIA2S+ communities is a critical step towards enhancing inclusive healthcare. This presentation explores how OT practitioners can address the diverse needs of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals by promoting well-being, supporting gender-affirming practices, and improving functional participation in daily activities. Key areas of intervention include assisting with mental health challenges, facilitating social participation, and promoting self-care and occupational performance. Integrating OT into primary care clinics allows healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes and create a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.

Cultivating Growth Mindset in Occupational Therapy Education : Applying the Mentor Model to Today's Students

Presenter: Suzanne E. Holm, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR, FAOTA
Co-presenter: Colleen Spellman, OTD, OTR/L, LSVT BIG Certified
Location: Cafe

Today's occupational therapy students are neurobiologically wired to respond differently to feedback and challenges than previous generations. This session introduces the mentor model, which balances high standards with high support while honoring students' developmental needs for respect and dignity. By exploring the parallels between the therapeutic use of self and educational approaches, participants will discover evidence-based strategies that enhance student engagement and professional development. These emerging educational practices significantly influence our ability to prepare resilient practitioners equipped to address evolving health needs, especially in challenging practice settings.

Occupational Therapy Collaborating with Preschool Teachers to Integrate a Yoga Toolkit for Self-Regulation in the Classroom

Presenter: Monica Callahan,  OTD, OTR/L (anticipated), 500-hour Certified Yoga Teacher, 95-hour Certified Children’s Yoga Teacher
Co-presenter: Lisa Fyffe, PhD, OTR/L
Location: Yoga Lawn

This is an interactive conference session exploring the gaps in occupational therapy, yoga, and preschool-aged children. Participants will discuss how to integrate yoga into preschool classrooms, how to educate and empower preschool teachers to integrate yoga, and how yoga is a health promoting intervention for self-regulation. Participants will learn best practices for collaborating with preschool teachers on presenting yoga to children in a fun and inclusive way. Participants will then experience the healing benefits of yoga firsthand through a guided “Yoga Adventure with Monica.” Integrating yoga into other pediatric settings will also be explored.
*Planning on attending? Please bring your own yoga mat or towel!

15 minute break

4:30-5PM
Event: 30 minute exhibitor sessions
Contact hours: 0.50 each

5-6:30PM

Event: Happy Hour

Apps sponsored by: Elevate Pediatric Therapy

Location: Cafe & Main Event